Unusually cold and precipitous weather kicked off 2023 for most of the country, and San Francisco was no exception. The post-holiday month usually signals a slow return to normal — companies blink away the drowsiness of the holiday festivities and employees trade flannel pajamas for more professional attire.
But as record-shattering rainfall showers The City, some of its tech startups are looking to make a similar splash in their fields, from AI companies pushing the limits of automation to cloud-based platforms enabling faster processes.
On a broader level, the new year also marks a clean slate, the chance for tech companies to shake off the specter of economic downturn and re-engage passion for people and products. While employees pen in wellness goals and career targets as resolutions, tech companies are generating strategic roadmaps for the year ahead.
It’s hard to predict in January what the new year might bring, but that’s not stopping some of San Francisco’s tech companies from charging into the deluge, backed by a strong foundation of culture and product pipelines.
For inspiration on how to start 2023 on the right note and leaving “Auld Lang Syne” behind, here are eight of the Bay Area’s tech companies taking advantage of the rainy unknown — confident about what lies ahead.
What it does: Cruise is an artificial intelligence company with a focus on self-driving automation. With big-name partnerships like General Motors and Honda, the company’s fully integrated vehicles are driving the industry forward as an innovative transit option connecting people and places, all while maintaining zero emissions.
The perks
- Recurring liquidity opportunity for company equity
- 401(k) with matching
- Continuing education stipend, job training and conferences
- Home office stipend, free daily meals and stocked kitchen
- Onsite gym and recreational clubs
Going commercial: For self-driving automation companies, receiving a commercial permit is an important milestone to commercial viability. In June 2022, Cruise received the first-ever Driverless Deployment Permit from California for operation in San Francisco, making it the first ridehailing service in a major US city to use driverless vehicles. “Crossing the threshold into commercial operations isn’t just big news for Cruise alone,” COO Gil West said in a press release. “It is a major milestone for the shared mission of the AV industry to improve life in our cities.”
What it does: Benchling is a biotech company that offers a cloud-based platform for research and development. With industry partners such as 23andMe and Sanofi, along with solutions tailored to different research niches, the company wants to help researchers accelerate biotech innovation with data, insights and streamlined collaboration.
The perks
- Monthly wellness stipend and unlimited paid sick leave
- Paid sabbatical leave option for five and ten years of service
- Weekly happy hours, monthly events and company retreats abroad
- Daily catered lunches for in-office employees
- Home office stipend for remote employees
On the cutting edge: This past September, Benchling revealed new, industry-first capabilities for its biopharma technology, allowing researchers to engage with RNA design, studies and modeling on its R&D Cloud platform. In a report by Biopharma Reporter, the company touts the technology’s potential for more streamlined collaboration among researchers as well as the promising benefits for work on RNA/mRNA therapeutics, gene therapy and gene editing.
What it does: Human Interest gives small and medium-sized businesses a more accessible way to offer 401(k) plans to their workforce. With retirement plans now a common perk offered by employers, those that might face obstacles can utilize the company’s low-cost and fee-free offerings, as well as its end-to-end plan administration.
The perks
- Work from home stipend
- 401(k) matching
- Annual wellness stipend and FSA contributions
- Charitable donation match up to $1,000/year
- Annual education stipend
Growing team: Back in July 2022, VP of People Debbie Gunning told Built In SF of the company’s plans for growth. “We’ve been in hypergrowth mode over the past year and plan to continue growing at a nice clip. We have 700 employees today and aim to grow to around 825 by the end of 2023.” Despite recent market downturns, the goal has not changed. The team hopes to bolster its headcount to continue its mission of offering accessible financial wellness.
What it does: Covariant is an artificial intelligence company that offers AI robotics solutions for warehouse automation. Founded by AI researchers, the company’s platform centers around robots that can help businesses scale their operations. Since its inception, Covariant has expanded its client base to the home improvement, grocery, industrial goods and pharmaceutical industries.
The perks
- Free daily meals
- 401(k) matching option
- Quarterly learning budget
- Monthly health and wellness budget
- Unlimited PTO and flexible work hours
Building robots and camaraderie: Emeryville-based Covariant sees all the volatility that comes from being a high-tech startup. But for Jasmine Deng, software engineer, the people make the experience — even during chaotic times. “In the end, after all this craziness, at least there are a lot of shenanigans and stories to tell — deployments in a sweltering un-air-conditioned warehouse from the early days, celebrating shipping a station after a huge sprint,” she told Built In SF last June. “And I think tackling these problems together really pulls people together.”
What it does: Embroker is an insurtech company that operates as a digital insurance brokerage for businesses. By marrying commercial insurance expertise with its technology platform, the company streamlines the process for choosing the right industry-specific coverage. Some of its notable clients include companies from across the tech industry such as Dashlane, Superhuman and Capsule.
The perks
- Paid parental leave up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period
- Home office stipend for remote workers
- Stocked kitchen and some meals provided
- 401(k) and company equity options
- Paid industry certifications, online course subscriptions, job training and conferences
New chief in town: As Embroker continues its growth in the insurtech space, the company recently welcomed David Derigiotis as its new chief insurance officer. With 20 years of relevant experience, the seasoned insurance expert was tapped to lead Embroker’s vertical products in the cybersecurity, technology and privacy spaces. “I’m looking forward to making greater strides in advancing Embroker’s intelligent digital platform and building upon the company’s unique strengths and innovative business model,” he said in a press release.
What it does: Zumper is a housing rental platform that allows users to find or list houses, rooms, condos and apartments in North America. Aside from renters, the company also offers marketing solutions for landlords, agents and multifamily communities to fill property vacancies. Zumper has also been named one of Forbes’ Best Startup Employer 2021, as well as listed in Built In SF’s 2021 Best Place to Work and Company with the Best Benefits.
The perks
- $65 per month wellness subsidy and yearly wellness program
- Employee assistance program including crisis consultation and counseling sessions
- Quarterly team-building events and weekly happy hours
- Home office stipend for remote workers
- Stocked kitchen, beer on tap and some meals provided
Sales and product harmony: The Zumper team recognizes how important it is to give sales reps a seat at the product table. They offer valuable insight on pricing and segmentation that can improve product offerings, which is why CRO Juliet Johansson strongly abides by collaboration between the two departments. “To demonstrate how important this partnership is, I created an entirely new role — regional vice president of national sales and product partnerships — for one of our most seasoned sales executives,” she told Built In SF this past October.
What it does: Tonkean is a no-code operation system for businesses that enables operations teams to manage, monitor and automate processes without needing technical knowledge. The company seeks to build an enterprise-grade bridge between business and IT teams to improve efficiency for both groups. The Tonkean OS is used by major industry players such as Lyft, Instacart and Grubhub.
The perks
- Virtual social events and annual company retreats
- $500 home office stipend
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- 401(k) and four-year vesting stock option
- Pet-friendly office
People-forward: To curate a people-centered workforce, Tonkean recognizes that the process starts at the recruiting level. One of its hiring priorities is ensuring a great candidate experience to reflect Tonkean’s internal culture and disseminate a positive image of the company. “Even if we don’t hire someone, I want them to walk away from their interview experience with only good things to say about Tonkean,” GTM Recruiting Lead Jennifer O’Gara told Built In SF in December.
What it does: Ascend is an automated platform that streamlines data and analytics engineering management, enabling data teams to ingest, transform and orchestrate their workloads at faster speeds. The company’s data automation cloud is used by companies across different industries, from HarperCollins Publishers and New York Post to Harry’s and Komodo Health.
The perks
- Lunch provided daily for Menlo Park office
- Home office stipend for remote employees
- Company outings and onsite parking
- 401(k) and company equity options
- Continuing education stipend and tuition reimbursement
Constant innovation: Last December, Ascend announced a partnership with data cloud company Snowflake on the Free Ingest solution, a feature that aims to help data teams of enterprise firms cut cost on ingestion and deliver data products faster. In the press release, CEO Sean Knapp states that the solution will “help our customers focus on the data transformation that produces real value, not just busywork.” Looking ahead, the Menlo Park-based team is also set to be recognized as one of Built In’s 2023 Best Places to Work.
